Was the July 2024 Unrest in Bangladesh an 'Orchestrated Coup' Led by Yunus?
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Synopsis
The Awami League Party of Bangladesh has accused Muhammad Yunus of orchestrating the July 2024 unrest as a coup, claiming it was engineered by foreign powers and technocrats to dismantle democracy and replace it with a puppet regime. The party highlights the manipulation of youth discontent for personal gain.
Key Takeaways
- Awami League accuses Yunus of orchestrating a coup.
- Protests were allegedly funded and manipulated by foreign powers.
- The collapse of democracy in Bangladesh is a key concern.
- The youth of Bangladesh are disillusioned and leaving the country.
- The narrative of a student-led movement is challenged by deeper engineering.
Dhaka, Aug 13 (NationPress) The Awami League Party of Bangladesh has claimed that the tumultuous demonstrations of July last year were not merely a spontaneous uprising, but rather a “meticulously orchestrated coup” carried out by unelected technocrats, with support from foreign powers, and spearheaded by Muhammad Yunus, who served as the Chief Advisor of the interim government.
The party noted that on the morning of August 5, 2024, Bangladesh experienced the downfall of a democratically elected government headed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, leading to a collapse of democracy, the constitution, and a significant loss of its rightful status on the global stage.
In a statement released by the Awami League on Wednesday, it was articulated, “The architects of this coup did not merely oust Sheikh Hasina — they sought to obliterate everything she and the Awami League represented. With a single stroke, the legacy of Bangabandhu was called into question, the hard-won victories of the last 15 years were discarded, and the apparatus of the state was surrendered to opportunists and ideological mercenaries.”
The statement continued, “Yunus and his circle of elite academics, NGO operatives, and foreign advisors did not arrive to restore democracy — they aimed to reshape it to fit their personal agendas. They weaponized the discontent of a generation, manipulated a grieving nation, and substituted a government elected by millions with a puppet regime conceived behind the closed doors of embassies and donor boardrooms.”
The party also pointed out that the movement from last year, which “masqueraded as a student-led protest over quotas,” exhibited signs of deeper engineering from the outset.
Awami League raised questions about how a policy disagreement could escalate overnight into a national crisis and who financed the logistics behind extensive rallies, media campaigns, and legal proceedings.
However, the party suggested that the response leads to a “nexus of NGO-backed networks, foreign embassies, and influential figures like Yunus, whose Nobel Peace Prize acted as a convenient shield” while he undermined the very peace and democracy he professed to uphold.
Criticizing Yunus for his hypocrisy, the Awami League insisted that while he presented himself as a proponent of democratic reform, he remained notably silent regarding mob assaults on elected officials, the dismantling of state institutions, and the erosion of democratic norms.
The party highlighted that Yunus' allies were emboldened by foreign endorsement, as “Western think tanks and media outlets — long critical of Hasina's independence and her refusal to align with Western hegemony — suddenly found moral justification to advocate for regime change.”
According to the Awami League, the events of 2024 represented not a collapse but a “staged demolition,” where a functioning, elected government was overthrown under the pretense of mass discontent, state media was seized, Awami League leaders were vilified or arrested, and the judiciary was weaponized rather than safeguarded, while Yunus and his foreign allies portrayed themselves as liberators.
“This was not merely a betrayal. It was a calculated demolition of a generation's future — all to fulfill the ambitions of one man and his foreign-backed circle. A nation that once took pride in its youthful demographic dividend now observes its brightest talents fleeing the country, disheartened and disenchanted,” the party asserted.
“By utilizing the youth to ascend the ladder of power, only to discard them upon reaching the top, Yunus demonstrated that his so-called revolution was never about renewal. It was about revenge, and the youth of Bangladesh bore the burden,” it concluded.
Point of View
It is crucial to remain unbiased and provide a platform for all voices. The events in Bangladesh underscore the complexities of political power dynamics and the role of external influences. While the Awami League's accusations against Yunus and others raise significant concerns, it's vital to examine all perspectives to understand the full narrative.
NationPress
05/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What sparked the July 2024 protests in Bangladesh?
The protests were initially framed as student-led demonstrations over quota policies but escalated into a larger movement challenging the government.
Who is Muhammad Yunus and what role did he play in the allegations?
Muhammad Yunus is the Chief Advisor of the interim government, accused by the Awami League of orchestrating a coup with foreign backing.
What does the Awami League claim about foreign involvement?
The Awami League claims that foreign powers supported the coup to reshape the political landscape in Bangladesh.
How did the protests affect democracy in Bangladesh?
According to the Awami League, the protests led to the dismantling of democratic institutions and the rise of a puppet regime.
What are the long-term implications of these events for Bangladesh?
The events have raised concerns about the future of democracy and the potential brain drain of the country's youth, who are disillusioned by the current political climate.
